Photographic camera and shutter therefor



Feb. 13, 1951 A. H. GoREY 2,541,413

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER THEREFOR Filed April 1, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet l Illllillilillllll Q Q :6 '2

C) v T 3 \&

TRI

SAC

FRO

@ W V INVENTOR.

d1 rmwH do. my BY J M D A. H. GOREY PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER THEREFOR Filed April 1, 1947 Feb. 13 1951 El] llllllllllllll 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 B ST Feb. 13, 1951 A. H. GOREY PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER THEREFOR Filed April 1, 1947 WW hwo HHLIHI Feb. 13, 1951 A. H. GOREY PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER THEREFOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 1, 1947 FRQ mm VMQ Illillilllllll Feb. 13, 1951 A. H. GOREY 2,541,413

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER THEREFOR Filed April 1, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 m9 A30 K121 Ska/73 /3/ 4/ /3/ las A. H GOREY PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER THEREFOR Feb, 13, 1951 Filed April 1, 194'? 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ,INVENTOR. UEZZ'CFZZEHBO 2 6 3 Feb. 13, 1951 A. H. GOREY 2,541,413

PHOTOGRAFHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER THEREFOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 1, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

Feb. 13, 1951 A. H. GOREY v2,541,413

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER THEREFOR Filed April 1, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 QM 1;), M Q @Q (HiZy-s Patented Feb. 13, 1951 PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA AND SHUTTER THEREFOR Archie H. Gorey, Rochester, N. Y., assignor :to Graflex, 1110., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 1, 1947, Serial No. 738,579

33 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic cameras and shutters therefor.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the camera to which my invention has been applied in this embodiment thereof;

Fig. 2 is a detail, partly in cross section, illustrating the structure of the front shutter release member;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but with the camera in a closed condition, the outer shutter plate having been removed, the intermediate shutter plate being shown broken away more clearly to show the shutter winding mechanism, and the shutter being set for a speed of /500 of a second;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but wherein the camera is in closed condition and the shutter is set for /1000 of a second;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the camera box, but with the outer shutter plate removed and the shutter release or operating mechanism being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 6 is a detail in cross section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 9, showing the construction of the shutter winding knob and the curtain rewind gear;

Fig. '7 is a detail in cross section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a back or underneath side view of the shutter intermediate plate, showing the construction and position of the mechanism carried thereon;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the shutter intermediate plate;

Fig. 10 is a right-hand end view of the construction shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a back or underneath plan view of the shutter release mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 11, taken on the line i2l2 thereof;

Fig. 13 is a detail in plan of the shutter curtain having one end foreshortened;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 11, taken on the line MHi thereof, showing the mounting of the several shutter release members;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 8, taken on the line i5-l5 thereof, showing the shutter rewind mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a schematic view showing the relationship of the shutter release plate and the shutter release mechanism when set for focal plane operation, the shutter being shown in the released condition;

Fig. 17 is a schematic view showing the shutter as having been released by the shutter trip member, for the selection of a different aperture;

Fig. 18 is a schematic view of the shutter release plate when in the normal condition;

Fig. 19 is a detail showing the relationship between the shutter release member and the synchronizer contacts;

Fig. 2c is a detail in longitudinal section showing the construction of the curtain tension roller and the mounting of the retard drive gear;

Fig. 21 is a detail in elevation showing theconstruction of the shutter curtain shaft lockin mechanism;

Fig. 22 is an isometric schematic view of the curtain shutter and the release mechanism, the shutter selector having been set for the focal plane shutter and ready for an operation of the curtain shutter by means of the shutter release lever;

23 is a vertical section through the retard mechanism, taken on the line 232-3 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 24 is a schematic View of the shutter retard mechanism, the shutter indicating gear, and the means for selecting the proper indication of shutter speeds;

Fig. 25 is an isometric view of the camera box showing the shutter curtain in place and broken away and having the several mechanism plates removed to show the wiring for the synchronizer mechanism:

Fig. 26 is a schematic View of the shutter operating mechanism wherein the shutter release means has been set for operating the front shutter, the shutter release lever having been operated to cause the operation of the front shutter; and

Fig. 2'? is a fragmentary detail of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 1, showing the shutter selector in position for operating the front shutter and indicating that the focal plane shutter has been set at 0 to indicate an open aperture.

This invention, which in practice has proved highly successful, relates to shutters of photographic cameras and particularly to shutter operating mechanism for a camera having a front shutter and a focal plane shutter with separate release members for said shutters, and a common shutter release member engageable with either of said shutter releasemembers to cause the op eration of either of said shutters. While the focal plane shutter herein disclosedhas numerous novel features, they are not herein claimed, but are claimed in a divisional application, Ser. No. 188,028, filed June 14, 1950.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the camera box indicated at 28 is provided with a camera back 2|, a bellows 22, a front standard 23, a front shutter 24, a lens 25, a bed 26, a shutter release lever 21 having a pin 23, and a shutter release assembly indicated generally at 29 and shown in detail in Fig. 2.

The assembly 39 is made up of the following parts: a tube 31', having an undercut portion 3| to provide means for clamping to the camera, a flexible cable 32 having an inner movable cable 33 terminating in a shaft 34 and a plunger 35 fitted into the upper end of the tube 3il and having an enlarged flange 36. The plunger 35 is threaded onto the shaft 34 and is adjusted thereon by means of a screw driver slot 31. The said shutter release assembly 29 is attached to the camera by means of a bracket 38 having a clamp screw 39.

Attached to the right-hand side of the camera box 22, shown in Fig. 1, are an outer shutter plate or shutter cover ii having a shutter winding key or knob ii, an opening 42, through which the shutter speed is indicated, and a shutter selector member 43, the purpose of which is to select the shutter to be used-that is, either the focal plane shutter or the between-the-lens shutter. The shutter plate 453 is also equipped with a receptacle 44 to complete a circuit to the flash synchronizing apparatus, subsequently described. At the bottom edge of the shutter plate 4|! is indicated a speed selector lever 45, the purpose of which is to select one of two groups of shutter speeds, and the operation of which lever will be subsequently explained.

Also fitted into the right-hand wall of the camera box is is a shutter finger release 46 that can be used to operate either the front betweenthe-lens shutter or the back focal plane shutter, depending on the position of the shutter selector member it, previously referred to. The camera bed 2%": is provided with a track 41, to which is fitted the camera front standard 23, which is adjustable on said track ll and is clamped thereto by a clamping member 48. The track 41 is adjustable in a horizontal direction by means of a focusing knob 49.

Next referring to Figs. 3 and lin Fig. 4 the camera is shown in a folded condition wherein the camera bed becomes a door for the camera box 28. The outer shutter plate 49 is attached to the camera box 25 by means of screws t, 59. In Fig. 3 the outer shutter plate 48 has been removed so as to show clearly an intermediate shutter plate 5| and an inner shutter plate 52, which latter is actually a part of the camera box 20. The intermediate shutter plate 5| is represented partially broken away to show a shutter rewind gear 53, a shutter rewind pinion 54, a shutter release plate 55 having a pin 55a, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and in full lines in Fig. 8, a

counterpinion 56 and a shutter rewind gear shaft 51.

In Fig. 5 is shown the camera box 2i! with the camera back 2 the camera bed 26 and the outer shutter plate All removed, the shutter operating mechanism being shown in dotted lines and referred to more fully hereinafter.

Referring to Fig. 6, Which is a section through the intermediate shutter plate 5| taken at the winding key or knob 4|-to the inner shutter plate 5| is attached a boss 58 having a bushing 59, into which latter is fitted the rewind gear shaft 5'1 carrying the rewind gear 53, the shutter wind ing key ill and the counterpinion 56. The said shutter rewind gear and the pinion 5B are attached to the shaft 5? by a shrink fit or other suitable means. The shutter winding key is attached to the shaft til by means of a pin 60. Attached to the shutter rewind gear 53 are ratchet dogs 62, 62. Fitted into a suitable opening provided in the intermediate shutter plate 5| is a speed indicating or index gear 63 that is provided with a pivot (not shown) on the said plate 5|, the said gear 53 being free to rotate thereon. The speed indicating or index gear 63 meshes with the pinion 56 of the shaft and serves to show the position of the shutter curtain at all times. The said gear '63 is provided with suitable markings (Fig. 24) that can be observed through the window 42 of the shutter plate Ml, previously referred to.

In Fig. 8 is shown the back side of the intermediate shutter plate 5i and the mounting of the shutter release plate by means of the shoulder screws 64, Said shutter release plate 55 is separated from the intermediate shutter plate 5| by spacers Ma, and it is caused to be moved in a downwarddirection, viewing Fig. 8, by a spring 535, one end of which is attached to a pin of said shutter release plate 55, and the other end whereof is attshed to a pin 61 of the intermediate shutter plate 5|. Said shutter release plate 55 is provided with cam faces 68 and 69 that co-act with the dogs 62 of the shutter rewind gear 53 when the shutter is operated to make an exposure or when rewinding the shutter, as subsequently described. Also carried on the intermediate shutter plate 5| is the shutter selector member previously referred to, the construction whereof is most clearly shown in Fig. '7. The intermediate shutter plate 5| is provided with an elongated opening "iii, shown in Fig. 7, into which is fitted a bushing 7| free to be moved in a vertical direction and of such length as to cause suihcient separation between the shutter selector member l3 and a shutter selector plate l2, shown in plan elevation in Fig. 8 and in section in Fig. '7. Said plate i2 is provided with a finger l3 that co-acts with the shutter release plate for releasing the shutter in order to select a different shutter aperture, and it also coacts with a member M of the shutter release mechanism to select one of the two shutters to be operated by the finger release 45, Figs. 5 and 11. Said member M is provided with a finger 14 at its lower end. Also attached to the said shutter release plate i2 is a plate spring 75 that rides on the inner shutter plate 52 and causes the release plate !2 to be pushed in an outward direction. The intermediate shutter plate 5| is provided with a suitable opening for a ball i5, and in the shutter selector plate l2 are provided notches 11, 11 that are engaged by the ball it when said shutter selector plate "i2 is in any one of its several positions. The said spring 15 provides a yielding tension or friction on said plate 12 so that it can be moved out of position as determined by the ball 16. The shutter selector member 43, the shutter selector plate 72, the spacer H and the spring 55 are all fastened together by means of a screw 18.

Again referring to Fig. 8, attached to said intermediate shutter plate 5! is a bracket member 19 that is fitted into a suitable groove 8G in the back side of said plate 5|, as shown in Fig. 8, and is connected to a second plate 8 I, as shown in Fig. 5, by means of screws 82, 82 and nuts 83, 83. A suitsmart able spacer, shown in dotted lines Fig. 5 andindicated at 84, is provided to assure sufficient separation of said plates I9 and BI, and permits the assembly consisting of the plates I9 and Bi and the spacer S4 to be moved in a vertical direction in a suitable opening 85, indicated in dotted lines,

Mounted between said plates 79 and 8| is a governor member, generally indicated at 86, Fig. 10, having a pinion 81 and a shaft 88, and also an idler gear 99 that meshes with a retard gear 99 on the curtain tension roller 9I, Fig. 8. The said idler gear 89 is provided with a shaft 89a that is fitted in suitable bearings in the plates I9 and 8!. The mechanism just referred to, best shown in Figs. 3 and 9, is herein termed the curtain or shutter retard mechanism, and is controlled by a bell crank lever 92, Fig. 5, that is pivoted on the intermediate shutter plate 5| and provided with an arm 99, that co-acts with the plate 8I of the curtain retard mechanism, and an arm 45 (previously referred to) to move the assembly in a vertical direction. The curtain retard mechanism is caused to be moved in a downward direction by a coiled spring 94, one end of which is hooked to the side plate i9, and the other end of which is connected to a pin 95 attached to the plate 5I. Connected to the plate 8| of the curtain or shutter retard mechanism is an arm 96, Fig. 9, by a rivet 9?. l'he upper end of said arm 96 is provided with a pad, mask or lateral extension 98 having an opening 99. A suitable opening in the plate SI, indicated at I90, is provided for the said. pad 98, allowing it to be displaced in a vertical direction.

In Fig. 11 is shown a shutter release mechanism plate I9I normally mounted in a recess provided in the camera box 20 and held thereto by screws I92, I92 passing through holes I62a, 592a, also indicated in Fig. 5, wherein the mechanism attached to the said plate IilI is shown in dotted lines (also shown in Fig. 11) wherein the back side of said plate IOI is represented and shows the location of said parts on the said plate. To the upper left-hand corner of said plate I9 I, as shown in Fig. 11, is attached a bell crani: lever I53 by means of a shoulder rivet I04, Figs. 11 and 13. Said bell crank lever I03 is provided with a bushing I05 that properly positions the said bell crank lever I03 with respect to the plate I9I. Said bell crank lever I03 is provided with a finger I99, Fig. 11, and a downwardly extending member I01 provided with a notch I08 that engages a pin I09, to be again referred to.

Also mounted on said plate II is the member previously referred to as co-acting with the shutter selector plate I3, and held to said plate iii! by shoulder rivets H0, H0. The said member '54 co-acting with the shutter selector plate '52 is provided with a vertical slot H2 (Figs. 11 and 16) and an arcuate transversely extending slot I I3 (also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11 and in solid lines in Fig. 16). The slight curvature of the slot H3 prevents any binding of the pin I09 when the common shutter release lever H4 is moved upon its pivot I04. Also pivoted on the shoulder rivet I94 is a common shutter release lever H4 having a bushing H5, Fig. 14, and properly positioned with respect to the bell crank lever I93 by a washer H6 (Fig. 14). The pin I09 is carried by said lever I I 4. The lower end of said common shutter release lever H4 is provided with an elongated opening or slot II! that engages a pin H8 of the finger release member 46, which is held to the mechanism plate IN by a pair of gibs H9, H9, which themselves are held to the mechanism plate IOI by rivets I20, I20, Fig. 11. Said opening or slot I I1 permits lengthwise functioning movement of said common shutter release member H4. The extreme lower end of the common shutter release lever H4 is provided with a pin I2 I, to which a spring I22 is attached, the other end of said spring being attached to a pin I23 that itself is attached to the mechanism plate IilI. Said spring I22 tends to cause the said release lever I I4 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 11, and in a contraclockwise direction viewing Fig. 5. Any movement of said finger release member 48 is transmitted to the said release lever H4 by the pin H9, thus normally causing said finger release member 48 to be moved in an outward direction viewing Fig. 5.

To the mechanism plate IOI, as best shown in Figs. 11 and 14, is pivoted a front shutter release lever I24 by means of a shoulder rivet I25. The said release lever I24 is provided with a bushing I25 to space said lever I24 with respect to the plate IilI. The lower end of said release lever 524 is provided with a stud I2! having a hole I2 Ia for receiving the front shutter release cable 33, Fig. 2, which is clamped to the stud l2? by a screw I29. The upper end of said release lever I24 is provided with a member I29 having a notch I99, Fig. 11.

Again referring to Figs. 11 and 14:, the pin I09 passes through an elongated slot I3I (Fig. 14) of the common shutter release lever H4 and is held thereto by washers I3Ia, I3Ib. Said pin I09 also engages the arcuate slot H3 of the member 74 of the shutter release mechanism, previously referred to. It will be noted that any motion of said member it will be transmitted to said pin I99, and since said pin I99 can be moved in a vertical direction with respect to the common shutter release lever H4, said pin I99 can be caused to engage either the notch I98 of the member Iil'l or the notch I30 of the member I29 of the front shutter release lever lid, thus providing means for coupling either said release lever I24 or said bell crank lever I93 to the common shutter release lever H4. The said notches I98 and 39 are in the same vertical plane facing each other and are close together so that a slight movement of the pin I99 positions said pin in one of said notches or the other. Since any movement in a rotary direction of said common shutter release lever I [4 will cause said pin Hi9 to move in a similar direction, either the bell crank lever i923 or the said front shutter release member 52:1 will be rotated, depending on the position of pin I09 which in turn is controlled by the shutter selector member 93 through the shutter selector plate '32, the finger 14c, and the member i i of the shutter release mechanism, which is caused to be moved in a vertical direction by the spring 33a hooked thereto. The other end of the spring IBM is hooked to the arm :99 of the bell crank lever I93 and causes it to turn in a clockwise direction.

Referring to Figs. 8, 16 to 18, 20, 22 and 25, the focal plane shutter is made up of a curtain I32 (Figs. 13 and 22), one end of which is partially wound on a take-up curtain roller I33 and the other end on the tension roller 9|. The said roller I 33 is mounted on a shaft I34, and the roller 9I is mounted on a shaft I35. The said shafts I3 l and I39 are mounted in the camera box 20, suitable bearings being provided therefor (Fig. 25). The shaft I34 of the curtain roller I 33 carries the pinion 54 that meshes with the shutter rewind gear 53. As the said shutter rewind gear 53 is turned in a contraclockwise direction by the shutter winding knob or key 4! the take-up curtain roller I33 is caused to turn in a clockwise direction, thus winding said focal plane curtain I32 on said roller I33 from the tension roller 9I which, as shown in Fig. 20, is mounted on the said shaft I35, and is provided with bushings I36 and I31. A coiled spring I38 is mounted inside said tension roller 9|, one end of which spring is hooked to a bushing I37 that is itself securely attached to the tension roller tI. The other end of said spring I38 is attached to the shaft I35 which is provided with a flattened end I39 over which is fitted a locking plate I It. After the spring I38 has been sufficiently tensioned, a shoulder screw MI is put in place, the shoulder whereof engages one of the semi-circular notches I42, thus holding said shaft I35 in position. This structure maintains a tension on the focal plane curtain I32 at all times.

The curtain I32 is provided with a number of openings or apertures M3, I44, I45 (Fig. 13). There may, within the scope of the invention, be as many apertures as desired depending on the number of different shutter speeds to be obtained. For each half revolution of the shutter rewind gear 53, a sufficient amount of curtain is wound on the take-up curtain 33 to place a curtain aperture in position to travel across the focal plane when the shutter released. When the curtain i32 has been wound, one of the ratchet dogs 62 will be engaged by the cam face 633 of the shutter release plate 55 (Fig. 18). As said shutter release plate 55 is caused to move in an upward direction, the cam face 68 will be removed from the ratchet dog 62, allowing the shutter rewind gear 53 to rotate in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 18, until stopped by the cam face 59. This will allow of enough of the curtain I32 passing the focal plane to permit one of the curtain apertures to cross the focal plane, thus making an exposure.

Upon the release of the shutter release plate 55, it will again be returned to the position shown in Fig. 18, because of the spring withdrawing or moving the said shutter release plate 55 in a downward direction. This will withdraw the cam face 59 from the ratchet dog 52, allowing the shutter rewind gear 53 to make a slight further rotation in a clockwise direction until stopped by the cam face 58. The curtain i32 will then be in position for a second exposure assuming that sufficient curtain length is wound on the curtain roller I33; if not, it will be necessary to rotate the shutter rewind gear 53 by means of the key or knob 4| in a contraclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 22, until sufficient curtain length for a second exposure is wound on the take-up curtain roller I33.

The part of the shutter mechanism per se just disclosed is not novel with me, and is not claimed per se herein, but it is necessary to described it and its action in order fully to disclose the invention that is herein claimed. 1

The shutter release plate 55 is provided with a flat spring finger I46 (Figs. 6 and 8), the purpose of which is to engage one of the rachet dogs 62 when the shutter is released so as to prevent it from bouncing and the shutter rewind gear 53 from oscillating. The present invention provides means for retarding or controlling the return of the velocity of the curtain I32 when it is re leased, thus providing means for securing two different shutter speeds for each aperture in the said curtain. When the curtain I32 is operated without the retarding means, a certain exposure time will be obtained from each curtain aperture, but when the curtain speed is controlled by an auxiliary means, a second series of exposure times will be obtained.

To provide such control, there is provided a governor or retarding mechanism, best shown in Fig. 23, wherein the shaft 88 is mounted in the plates 19 and 8| and carries an eccentric I41 and an eccentric I48. On the eccentric I41 is mounted a disk I49, and on the eccentric I48 is mounted a disk I50. Said disks I49 and I50 are prevented from rotating by means of arms I5I and I52 respectively. One end of the arm I5I, best shown in Fig. 24, is connected to the disk I49 by a pin I53. One end of arm I52 is connected to the disk I50 by a pin I54. The other end of the arm I5I is connected to the plate 8| by a pin I55. The opposite end of the arm I52 is connected to the plate I9 by a pin I56. The shaft 88 also carries a pinion 81 that meshes with the idler gear 89, which can be caused to become meshed with the retard gear 95 carried as described by the curtain tension roller 9|.

When the lever 45 at the bottom edge of the shutter plate 40 is in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 24, the idler gear 89 engages the retard gear 90 which in turn engages the pinion ill on the shaft 88, causing said shaft to be rotated at a relatively high speed with respect to the curtain tension roller 9 I. This will vibrate the retarding disks I49 and iiiil because of the eccentrics I41 and I48 respectively. Such retarding action will out down the velocity of the curtain I32 to any predetermined amount depending on the weight and throw of said retarding disks I49 and I50.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the mass has been so adjusted that it cuts the velocity of the curtain in two. If the curtain I32 is set for a normal of a second exposure without the use of retarding means, an exposure of of a second will be obtained when the retarding means is engaged.

To provide an automatic indication of the shutter speed obtained, I have provided the speed indicating or index gear 63 which, as stated, is driven by the pinion 56 carried on the shaft 5? of the shutter rewind gear 53. The ratio of the pinion 56 with respect to the speed indicating or index gear 63 is such that said gear 63 will make one revolution when the curtain I32 has been wound through its entire length, and the said gear 63 carries data indicating what exposure will be obtained in the several positions of said gear 63, as, for instance, k /25 of a second, etc. Also indication is provided when the curtain I32 is set for a time exposure and the open condition is also indicated.

Since it is possible to get two different shutter speeds for each curtain aperture, two markings are provided, close together, on the said gear 63 for each curtain setting, as, for instance, and ,3 The speed of of a second will be obtained without the use of retarding means and the speed of 5 of a second will be obtained with the use of retarding means. Therefore, by connecting the retarding mechanism to the pad or mask 98, shown in Figs. 3, 5, 9 and 24, which has an opening provided therein, it is possible to give a direct indication of the exposure to be obtained. For example, viewing Fig. 24, if the speed selector lever 45 is moved in a contraclockwise direction, thus engaging the retarding mechanisms, as

previous described, the pad or mask 98 will be in a position to uncover the figure 500, meaning of a second, and, if said speed selector lever 45 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the position of said pad or mask 83 will be changed and the opening will uncover the numeral 1060, thus indicating an exposure speed of 40 of a second. The same action is true for any one of the other speeds obtained. by the several curtain apertures of the curtain 132.

This provides a direct and positive means for reading the exposure to be obtained when the curtain is released, which heretofore has never been accomplished, so far as I aware, in the general type of shutter herein disclosed.

Referring to Fig. 25, the camera box 20 is provided with a partition !58 to which are attached contact members I59 and 150 having bus bars 15! and I62 respectively. To the bus bar i! is connected a conductor that terminates in a contact 64 of the receptacle G l mounted on the outer shutter plate or shutter cover ll! (Fig. 1). To the bus bar N52 is connected a conductor I65 that is connected to a second bus bar 1% having formed at its lower end a contact member I61. A second contact member Hi8 provided that connects to a bus bar 559 having its upper end terminating in a terminal ill! of the receptacle 44. The terminals I64 and I'll] provide means for connecting a flashlamp Ill and its associated battery H2 for synchronizing said fiashlamp with a focal plane curtain or shutter. The focal plane curtain I32, as shown in Figs. 13 and 22, is provided with a series of metallic tabs I13 located with respect to the curtain apertures so as to cause a flashing of the flashlamp lll when a circuit is completed between contacts I59 and I60 by the contact H3. After the curtain I32 travels a sufficient distance for contact I13 to bridge the contacts I59 and iii-ll, a circuit will thereby be completed through the conductors m3 and I65, the wires H5 and E75, and the battery I12, thus flashing the fiashlamp ill. However, this circuit will only be completed if the contacts l6! and I68 are in the closed condition.

The general. structure of the synchronizing mechanism herein shown is not a part of this invention, but is disclosed in the patent to Oscar Steiner, No. 2,188,065, dated January 23, 1940. The present invention constitutes an improvement upon the disclosure in said Steiner patent, in that I provide means to prevent inadvertent flashing of the lamp ill when the shutter is being rewound or another aperture is being selected. This is accomplished herein in the following manner, reference being particularly made to Fig. 16.

The contacts 161 and Hill are normally in open condition. Therefore the movement of the focal plane curtain lt2 and the traversing of a contact H3 over the contacts i559 and 160 will not complete a circuit to the flashla-mp ii i, but when the common shutter release lever lid is operated by the finger release member 46 to cause an exposure, the contacts H51 and H53 will be closed by an insulated block lib, as most clearly shown in Fig. 16. Therefore, when the focal plane curtain shutter is released for making an exposure by the finger release at, a circuit will be completed through the contacts Hi1 and H33 and at no other time.

I have now fully described the disclosed embodiment of my invention and will next give a resume of the operation of the camera using alternatively the front shutter and the focal plane shutter, and to that end I will first describe the .10 operation of the between-the-lens shutter 24, Fig. 1.

Since a speed of 1 of a. second is indicated in aperture 42, the camera user knows it will be necessary to have the back curtain open, which will be indicated by the numeral 0 in aperture 42 (Fig. 2'7), so that the curtain I32 will not obstruct the light passing through the lens 25 to the sensitized material at the focal plane. To accomplish this, the shutter selector member 43, Figs. '1, 1'7 and 22, is raised, and at the same time the finger 13 will thereby be raised, thus contacting with the lower part of the shutter release plate 55, causing it to be raised and thus disengaging the cam face 68 from one of the ratchet dogs 62 carried by the shutter rewind gear 53, which will, thereupon, make approximately onehalf revolution in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 18 until the ratchet pin 62 is stopped by the cam face 69, and the mechanism will accordingly be in the position shown in Fig. 17.

Upon the release of the shutter selector member 43, the finger 13 will be returned to its normal position, as will also the shutter plate 55, thus removing the cam face 69 from the ratchet dog 62, allowing the shutter rewind gear 53 to make a slight further rotative movement in a clockwise direction until the second ratchet dog 62 is stopped by the cam face 68. A speed of /2 of a second will now be indicated at the aperture 42. Therefore, the operation will be repeated until zero appears in the aperture 42. The curtain H2 is now in proper position for use of the front shutter 24. The shutter selector member 43 is then moved in a downward direction until the word Front aligns with the center of the shutter selector member 43 (Fig. 2'7). As the said shutter selector member 43 is moved in a downward direction, the plate 12 will also be moved in a downward direction, as shown in Fig. 16, contact ng with the finger 14a of the shutter selector plate 14, thus shifting the pin Hi9 (Figs. 11 and 26) so as to be engaged by the notch ltd of the upwardly extending member 29 of the front shutter release lever I24 and withdrawing the pin m9 from the notch I08 of the downwardly extending member I01 of the bell crank lever lot. This will disengage the connection provided through the pin I09, between the common shutter release lever H4 and the focal plane shutter operating bell crank lever Hi3, connecting the front shutter release lever I24 with the common shutter release lever H4 through the pin I09 engaging slot i313, as previously described (Fig. 26).

As pressure is applied to the shutter finger release 1%, the common shutter release lever l 54 will be rotated in a clockwise direction about the pivot ill i, carrying with it the pin tilt and cau ing the said front shutter release lever l i to be turned in a contraclockwise direction, about the pivot 125. This will cause the cable 33 to be pulled through the cable housing 32 because of its connection. to the said front shutter release lever by means of the stud i2? (Fig. 26). As the cable is pulled through the housing 32, the plunger (Figs. 1 and 2) will be moved in a downward direction and its flange 36 will engage the pin of the front shutter release lever 21, thus operating the front shutter 2. As long as the shutter selector member l3 remains in the position indicated in Fig. 27, the operation of the shutter finger release lit will always operate the plunger 35, thus operating the front or betweenthe-lens shutter 2t, and the focal plane curtain shutter I32 will not be operated and will remain in its open condition.

I will next describe the operation of the back or focal plane curtain shutter i32, first describing the high range of speeds. The front shutter as, Fig. l, is set on time and the said front shutter is released so that it is in its open condition. On some front shutters, the leaves thereof can be opened for the operation of the focal plane shutter by means of the so-called press focus lever.

The camera user will next select the shutter speed intended to be used, either by winding the shutter knob or key M if a higher speed is wanted, as indicated in the window 52 of the plate 40, or by lowering the shutter curtain I32 by moving upward the shutter selector member Q3 and then releasing it in the manner described in connec-- tion with the front shutter operation. After the curtain I32 is positioned to provide the speed chosen (for the purpose of illustration, there is selected the speed of /1000 of a second, as shown. in Fig. 4), the shutter selector member 33 is then moved to the position shown in Fig. l. The parts of the shutter operating mechanism will then be in the position shown in Fig. 22. The pin Id?! will be in position to engage the notch I558 of the downwardly extending member I0! of the bell crank lever I03. Any motion of the common shutter release lever I I4 through pressure on the shutter finger release 46 will cause the said common shutter release lever H4 to be rotated a clockwise direction, thus causing the bell crank I 03 to be also rotated in a clock vise direction. and the finger I06 of the bell crank lever 33 will contact with the pin 55a that is attached to the shutter release plate 55, thereby moving the shutter release plate 55 upward, as shown in Fig. 16. This will allow the focal plane curtain its to run down because the cam face has been with-- drawn from the ratchet dog 62, allowing the shutter rewind gear 53 to make substantially onehalf revolution in a clockwise direction and allowing the shutter rewind pinion 54 and the takeup curtain roller I33 to rotate in a contra-clockwise direction. When pressure is removed from the shutter finger release 46, the shutter release mechanism will be restored to the condition shown in Fig. 18, wherein the cam face 69 will be disengaged from the ratchet dog 62, allowing the shutter rewind gear 53 to make a slight movein ent of rotation in a clockwise direction until the second ratchet dog 62 is engaged by the cam face 68. At this time, a shutter speed will be indicated of /250 of a second, and if the focal plane shutter curtain I32 is not rewound, that length of exposure will be made upon a second pressure of the shutter finger release 46. If a second exposure of /1000 of a second is desired, it will be necessary to rewind the focal plane curtain I32 through the curtain winding knob or key 4| so that the numeral 1000 will be shown in the aperture 42.

I have just described the manner of obtaining the high shutter speed series. I will now describe the manner of obtaining the low shutter speed series, and for the purpose it will be assumed that the camera is in the same condition as just described, wherein the numeral 1000 is in the apex-- ture 42 in the shutter plate 46, and the camera user wants to make an exposure of /500 of a second. It will be necessary only to ro ate the speed selector lever 45 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 24, in which position it will engage the shutter retarding mechanism, includin governor member 86, previously fully described,

and will at the same time uncover the numeral sec to be viewed in the aperture 42.

As the focal plane curtain shutter I32 is released through pressure on the shutter fingerrelease 46, the curtain I32 will be taken up on the curtain tension roller 9|, but the speed of said curtain tension roller 9| will be governed by the governor member or retarding mechanism 8%, and the pinion 81 of the shaft 88 that will be meshing with the idler gear 89, which in turn will be meshing with the retard gear 99 on the curtain tension roller HI, causing the eccentrics I41 and I 48 to be revolved, thus vibrating the disks I49 and I50, and since it will require a definite amount of power to vibrate these disks, the curtain tension roller 9| will be slowed up.

The throw of the disks I49 and I50 and the weight of these-parts have been so calculated and designed as, in this instance, to provide a retarding effect to the curtain tension roller SI that will decrease the velocity of the focal plane curtain I32 and the curtain tension roller 9| to one-half its value obtained without the use of the retarding or governor mechanism. Therefore, if the curtain aperture selected is normally providing an exposure speed of /1000 of a second, the same aperture would, with the use of the shutter retarding or governor mechanism, pro vide a speed of /500 of a second. Any of the other speeds can be selected and used in like manner.

When it is desired to synchronize a flashlamp with the focal plane curtain shutter I32, it is necessary only to attach a standard battery case carrying a flashlamp and having suitable leads to the receptacle 44, and when the shutter is released, contact will be made in the manner already described, thus completing a circuit to the flashlamp III, causing it to flash at the proper time to provide synchronization. It is to be understood, however, that the synchronization will be correct only when used in connection with shutter speeds wherein the retarding or governor mechanism is not used.

To provide an absolutely foolproof operation, I add a second switch in series with the flashlarnp III that is operated by the speed selector lever to open that switch whenever said lever 45 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 or in that position wherein the retarding or governor mechanism is used.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that there is herein disclosed a new camera structure provided with both a between-the-lens shutter and a focal plane curtain shutter, either of which can be operated selectively from a single shutter release button or member. There are also herein provided improvements in focal plane shutters whereby I can accurately control the speed of the focal plane shutter curtain to obtain two different shutter speeds for each aperture provided in the said curtain.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera having a front shutter and a focal plane curtain shutter comprising a release member for the front shutter, a release member for the focal plane shutter, a common shutter release member engageable with either of said shutter release members to cause the operation of either shutter, manually operated means for causing the engagement of saidcommon shutter release member with either of said shutter release members, a shutter finger release operatively connected to said common shutter release member, so that movement of said shutter finge. release operates whichever of the two shutters is opcratively connected through said common shutter release member. I

2. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera having a front shutter and a focal plane curtain shutter comprising a release lever for the front shutter, a release lever for the focal plane shutter, a common shutter release lever engagea'ble with either of said shutter release levers to cause the operation. of either shutter, manually operated means for causing the engagement of said common shutter release lever with either of said shutter release levers, and a shutter finger release operatively connected to said common shutter release lever, so that movement of said shutter finger release operates whichever of the two shutters is operatively connected through said common shutter release lever.

3. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 2, but wherein the said manually operable means is a shutter selector member manually movable to two different positions, .and is operatively connected to the parts of the shutter operating mechanism, thereby to control by its manually imposed position which one of the two shutters will be operated by the shutter finger release.

4. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera having .a front shutter and a focal plane curtain shutter comprising a release member for the front shutter, a release member for the focal plane shutter, a common shutter release member engageable with either of said shutter release members to cause the operation of either .shutt manually operated means for causing the engagement of said common shutter release member with either of said shutter release members, and movable means operatively related to said common shutter rel-ease member for operating by its movement whichever of the two shutters is operatively connected through said common shutter release member.

5.'Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera having a front shutter and a focal plane curtain shutter comprising a release member for the front shutter, a release memher for the focal plane shutter, a common shutter release member engageable with either of said shutter release members to cause the operation of either shutter, manually operated shutter selector member for causing the engagement of said shutter release member with either of said shutter release members, and movable means operatively related to the said common shutter release member for operating by its movement whichever of the two shutters is operativel'y connected through said common shutter release member.

6. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera having a front .shutter and a focal plane curtain shutter comprising a release member for the front shutter, a release member for the focal plane shutter, a common shutter release member engageable with either of said shutter release members to cause the operation of either shutter, manually operated means for Causing the engagement of said common shutter release member with either of said shutter release members, and movable means operatively related to said common shutter release member for operating by its movement whichever of the two shutters is then operatively connected for actuation through said common shutter release member.

7. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera having a front shutter and a focal plane curtain shutter comprising a release member for the front shutter, a release member for the focal plane shutter, a common shutter release member engageable with either of said shutter release members to cause the operation of either shutter, manually operated means for causing the engagement of said common shutter release member with either of said shutter release members, whereby either of said shutters will be operated depeniing upon which one is engaged with the said common shutter release member.

8. Shutte' operating mechanism for photographic cameras including a front shutter and a focal plane shutter, shutter release mechanism including a release member for the front shutter, a release member for the focal plane shutter and a common shutter release member engageable with either of said shutter release members, to cause the operation of eithershutter, and a movably mounted shutter selector member positioned to cause, by movement therethe engagement of said common shutter release member with either of said shutter release members.

9. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, but wherein there is provided on the camera body, a fixed shutter release mechanism plate wherein is mounted for movement the said release member for the focal plane shutter and also a movable member for the shutter operating or releasing mechanism, said movable member being provided with a vertical slot to receive a projecting, supporting and guiding rivet from said mech anism plate, and thereby permitting vertical movement of the said movable member, said movable member being also provided with a transverse slot, and wherein the said common shutter release member is provided with a projecting, pin-like formation to engage said transversely extending slot and movable therealong in the shutter operating action.

10. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, but

' wherein the common shutter release member for the two shutters comprises a lever, and wherein spring means is provided to turn said lever in one direction of rotation.

11. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, but wherein the common shutter release member for the two shutters comprises a lever, and wherein the shutter finger release is cooperatively related to the said lever so as to move the said lever.

12. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera accordance with claim 1, but wherein the front shutter release member comprises a lever having at its upper end having an upwardly directed notch, and wherein the said commonshutter release member is provided with a laterally extending pin that may be moved by movement-of said manually operated means into said notch for effecting the operation of the front shutter, said common shutter release member being a lever having a lower end provided with a slot and said finger release member having a pin to engage said slot, whereby movement of said finger release member is transmitted to the said common shutter release member.

13. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, but wherein the front shutter release member comprises a release lever provided with a member having a notch therein, and wherein the common shutter release member is provided with means to engage the said notch, for operatively connecting the front shutter with the common shutter release member.

14. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, but wherein the common shutter release member is provided with a slot, and wherein the focal plane shutter release member is provided with a notch, and wherein the front shutter release member is provided with a notch, and wherein there is provided a pin engageable alternatively either with said notch of the focal plane shutter release member or with the notch of the front shutter release member and wherein said pin is carried by said common shutter release member.

15. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, but wherein the common shutter release member is provided with a slot permitting functioning movement with said member, and wherein the focal plane shutter release member is provided with a notch, and wherein the front shutter release member is provided with a notch, and wherein there is provided a pin engageable alternatively either with said notch of the focal plane shutter release member or with the notch of the front shutter release member, and means including said common shutter release member to move said pin into engagement with either of said notches, thereby controlling by such engagement either the front shutter release member or the focal plane shutter release member.

16. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, but wherein the common shutter release member is provided with a slot permitting functioning movement with said member, and wherein the focal plane shutter release member is provided with a notch, and wherein the front shutter release member is provided with a notch, and wherein there is provided a pin engageable a1- ternatively either with said notch of the focal plane shutter release member or with the notch of the front shutter release member, and means to move said pin into engagement with either of said notches, thereby controlling by such engagement either the front shutter release member or the focal plane shutter release member, said means for operating the pin including a lever constituting said common shutter release member.

1'7. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, but wherein the common shutter release member is provided with a slot permitting functioning movement with said member, and wherein the focal plane shutter release member is provided with a notch, and wherein the front shutter release member is provided with a notch, and wherein there is provided a pin engageable alternatively either with said notch of the focal plane shutter release member or with the notch of the front shutter release member, and means to move said pin into engagement with either of said notches, thereby controlling by such engagement either the front shutter release mem ber or the focal plane shutter release member, said means for operating the pin including a lever constituting said common shutter release member, and wherein there is provided a shutter finger release positioned to move the said lever constituting said common shutter release member.

18. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, but wherein the front shutter release member comprises a lever, and the focal plane shutter release member comprises a bell crank lever, and wherein the common shutter release member comprises a lever, and wherein the said three levers have formations permitting the cooperative alternative engagement of said common shutter release lever with either of said other two lovers in order thereby to render operative the shutter whose release lever is so engaged by said common shutter release lever.

19. Shutter operating mechanism in accordance with claim 8, wherein the camera body is provided with a fixed shutter plate 5| having a shutter selector member mounted for sliding movement thereon and having fast thereto for movement therewith a shutter selector plate 12, so that said selector plate '12, when moved by said shutter selector member, engages and moves a portion of the said shutter release mechanism, thereby to select one of the said two shutters to be operated.

20. Shutter operating mechanism in accordance with claim 8, wherein the camera body is provided with a fixed shutter plate 5| having the said movably mounted shutter selector member mounted for sliding movement thereon and having fast thereto for movement therewith a shutter selector plate 12, and the said shutter release mechanism including also a plate '14 mounted for sliding movement upon the camera body, the said shutter selector plate 12, when moved by movement of said movably mounted shutter selector member, engaging and moving said plate 14, thereby to select one of the said two shutters to be operated, the said plate 14, when so moved for shutter selection, connecting for operation through the said common shutter release member with either the said release member for the said front shutter or with the said release member for the said focal plane shutter.

21. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera having a front shutter and a focal plane curtain shutter comprising, in combination, a shutter selector member, a shutter selector plate positioned to be moved thereby, a release lever for the front shutter, a release lever for the focal plane shutter, and a common shutter release lever for operatively engaging alternatively either of said release levers so as to cause by functioning movement of said common shutter release lever, the operation of the shutter whose release lever is in operative engagement with said common shutter release lever.

22. Shutter operating mechanism for photographic cameras in accordance with claim 21, wherein, in order to operate the focal plane shutter, the release lever therefor is provided at a downwardly directed portion thereof with a downwardly facing notch, and wherein the common shutter release lever is provided with a laterally extending pin adapted, upon movement of said common shutter release lever, to be brought into engagement with said notch, for

l7 effecting the-operating '01 the focal plane shutter. 2.3. Shutter operating mechanism inaccordance with claim 21, wherein for effecting the functioning engagement of the common shutter release lever with the front shutter release lever thereis provided a pin on said common shutter release lever, and wherein the shutter selector plate is provided with a finger to shift the said pin so as cooperatively to'engage with the front shutter release lever.

' 24. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic-camera in accordance with claim 21,

Y but wherein for effecting the functioning engagement of the common shutter release lever with the focal planeshutter-release lever, there is -provideda pin carriedby said common shutter release lever, and said focal plane shutter release lever is provided with a formation to be engaged by said pin.

25. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 21, but wherein there is provided a shutter finger release to which pressure may be applied to operate either of said shutters depending upon the position of the common shutter release lever.

26. Shutter operating mechanism for photographic cameras comprising a front shutter, a focal plane shutter, a common shutter release member, a release member for said focal plane shutter, a release member for said front shutter, an operating pin-like projection carried by said common shutter release member, each of said two release members for said two shutters having a notch engageable by said pin-like projection upon proper movement of said common shutter release member the said two notches being in alignment, facing each other and close together, said common shutter release member being movable in two directions to bring the said pin-like projection into engagement with one or the other of said notches respectively, thus providing means to couple either the release member for the front hutter or the release member for the focal plane shutter to said common shutter release member, whereby that shutter is rendered operable whose release member has its notch then engaged by said pin-like projection.

27. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 2, but wherein for controlling the movement of the focal plane shutter, when the common shutter release lever has been engaged with the release lever for said focal plane shutter, by means of the said manually operated means so as to select for operation the said focal plane shutter, there is provided a shutter release plate for the focal plane shutter and a manually movable plate having a finger adapted to engage the shutter release plate to release the said focal plane shutter upon movement of said plates following the said movement of the said manually operated means for selecting said focal plane shutter for operation, the said manually operated means and the said manually movable plate being fastened together for movement together.

28. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 2, but wherein for controlling the movement of the focal plane shutter, when the said common shutter release lever has been engaged with the release lever for such shutter by movement of said manually operated means to select such shutter, there is provided a shutter release plate, a manually movable plate to engage and move said shutter release plate, and a spring to provide fric- Y :means and said manually movable plate being fastened together for movement together.

. 29. Shutter operating mechanismfor a photographic camera in accordance with claim 2, but wherein for controlling the movement of the focal plane shutter, when the said common shutter release lever has been engaged with the release lever for such shutter by movement of the said manually operated means to select such shutter, there is a shutter release plate, a manually movable plate .to engage and move said shutter release plate, and means to hold the said manually movable plate in either of a plurality of positions into which it may be moved,

, said manually operated means and said manually movable plate being fastened together for movement together.

30. Shutter operating mechanism for a photographic camera in accordance with claim 2, but wherein for controlling the movement of the focal plane shutter, when said common shutter release lever has been engaged with the release lever for such shutter by movement of the said manually operated means to select such shutter, there is a shutter release plate, a manually movable plate to engage and move said shutter release plate, and means to hold the said manually movable plate in either of a plurality of positions into which it may be moved, said holding means including notches in said plate and a cooperating ball engageable in any of said notches, said manually operated means and said manually movable plate being fastened together for movement together.

31. Shutter operating mechanism for photographic cameras including a front shutter and a focal plane shutter, shutter release mechanism including a release member for the front shutter, a release member for the focal plane shutter and a common shutter release member engageable with eitherof said shutter release members, to cause the operation of either shutter, and a movably mounted shutter selector member positioned to cause, by movement thereof,

the engagement of said common shutter release member with either of said shutter release members, and a shutter finger release positioned and interacting to operate either the front shutter or the focal plane shutter, depending on the position to which the said shutter selector member has been moved.

32. Shutter operating mechanism for photographic cameras comprising a front shutter, a focal plane shutter, a common shutter release member, a release member for said focal plane shutter, a release member for said front shutter, an operating pin so supported as to be moved by movement of said common shutter release member, said two release members for said two shutters each having a notch alternatively engageable by said pin when moved thereinto, thus providing means to couple either the release member for the front shutter or the release member for the focal plane shutter to said common shutter release member, when moved thereinto, and means to move said operating pin selectively into either of said notches.

33. Shutter operating mechanism in accordance with claim 32, but wherein there is provided a shutter box having upon an outer wall thereof a manually operable shutter selector member for controlling the position of said pin, the said selector member being movable manually along "the said shutter box wall, for the selection of either saidfifont shutter or said focal plane shutter, a shutter selector plate fast with said selector member, the shutter release mechanism composedof the release member for the focal -plane shutter and the release member for the front shutter and the common shutter release member, coacting with said selector membet and 'said shutter selector plate, so as by movement' of said selector member and said selector plate to select one of the said two shutters to be operated, and a cooperatively related finger release member to operate the selected one of said shutters, in accordance with the position of the said shutter selector member.

ARCHIE H. GOREY.

20 REFERENCES crrEn The following references'are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

